The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin - Audio Version

 The Librarian Spy

by Madeline Martin

Audio Version

The Librarian Spy is an interesting story

chock full of information and facts about 

the time surrounding WWII. 

The people in the background. The ones we

know very little about. People that put their 

lives on the line every day. Gave up love, 

a future, security and much more. 

But they willingly learned and worked and

starved and did without so much. 

They saved so many. Gave of themselves 

with the hope that it would work out. 

Madeline Martin has written a story after

doing so much research. In order to give the

reader so much detail. Madeline also found a

wonderful narrator. Saskia Maarleveld. 

Saskia has done narration on another book 

from Madeline Martin. The Last Bookshop

in London. Another story that will hit you 

in all the feels. 

One of the main characters begins the story

while working happily at the library of congress.

She left her dream job to help others in a much

bigger way as a spy. 

Review by Lisa Hutson

Susan's Review of The Widows of Champagne by Renee Ryan

Champagne, 1939

Champagne, 1939
Gabrielle Leblanc Dupree is taking her family’s future into her hands. While she should be preparing for a lavish party to celebrate two centuries of champagne making, she secretly hides Chateau Fouché-Leblanc’s most precious vintages behind a fake wall in the cellar in preparation for the looming war. But when she joins the resistance, the coveted champagne isn’t the most dangerous secret her cellar must conceal…

A former Parisian socialite, Gabrielle’s mother, Hélène, lost her husband to another war. Now her home has been requisitioned by the Germans, who pillage vineyards to satisfy the Third Reich’s thirst for the finest champagne. There’s even more at stake than Hélène dares admit. She has kept her heritage a secret…and no one is safe in Nazi-occupied France.

Josephine, the family matriarch, watches as her beloved vineyard faces its most difficult harvest yet. As her daughter-in-law and granddaughters contend with the enemies and unexpected allies in their midst, Josephine’s deep faith leads to her own path of resistance.

Across years and continents, the Leblanc women will draw on their courage and wits, determined against all odds to preserve their lives, their freedom and their legacy…

The Widows of Champagne is a compelling novel which takes place during the Nazi occupation of France during the Second World War. The courage and determination exhibited by the three generations of Leblanc widows drew me into the story immediately.

The novel employs the alternative narrative technique which allows the reader to understand the characters thoughts and emotions. Renee Ryan’s descriptive writing depicts the family matriarch Josephine’s decline perfectly. Josephine struggles with her memory but, she’s clever enough to figure out that the Germans are stealing valuable paintings and family heirlooms. The Germans ignore Josephine believing that she is senile which enables her to pass on important information to the résistance.

Helene choses to fight for her family’s heritage in an unorthodox way as she believes she has the most to lose as the Nazi’s invade Reims. The author crafts Helene perfectly as she chooses to align herself with the German officers who occupy the chateau. Can she be trusted?

Gabrielle is the vineyards winemaker. She is determined to preserve her family and their heritage—the vineyards. I admired Gabrielle’s strength of character, her sense of duty and her determination to survive all of the obstacles in her path. Each of the three woman faced difficult choices and they remained steadfast in their beliefs.

The Widows of Champagne is a thought provoking novel of bravery, faith and sacrifice. The suspenseful storyline drew me into the story immediately and kept me on the edge of my seat with its unexpected twists and turns. I could feel the despair when France surrendered to the Germans, the tension when the chateau was occupied and the very real sense of danger that the widows faced every day. This poignant story has made a lasting impression on me. Through the characters of Josephine, Helene and Gabrielle, the author depicts the war in occupied France from a woman’s point of view -- this resonated with me.

The Widows of Champagne is a must read for historical fiction readers—it’s a beautifully written story of the Leblanc’s courage to preserve their heritage.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the publisher

Susan's Review of Andrew Morton's Elizabeth and Margaret-the Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters

This biography from a New York Times bestselling author follows Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret as they navigate life in the royal spotlight. They were the closest of sisters and the best of friends.

But when, in a quixotic twist of fate, their uncle Edward Vlll abdicated the throne, the dynamic between Elizabeth and Margaret was dramatically altered. Forever more Margaret would have to curtsey to the sister she called 'Lillibet.' And bow to her wishes. Margaret's struggle to find a place and position inside the royal system—and her fraught relationship with its expectations—was often a source of tension.. This book explores their relationship over the years.

Andrew Morton’s Elizabeth and Margaret is a well-researched, charming, insightful read. I enjoyed how Andrew Morton focused on the close relationship between the two sisters rather than historical events. I have not read a biography in ages and Morton’s choice to focus on the sister’s relationship captured my interest and kept me reading.

Elizabeth and Margaret had an idyllic childhood; they dressed alike, shared the same nanny and slept the same bedroom. King Edward VIII’s abdication forever altered their relationship. Morton shared Margaret’s feelings throughout the book as she realized that the limelight no longer shined on her; it shifted to her quiet, horse loving sister.

Morton carefully presents information about Margaret’s complicated love affair with Captain Peter Townsend. I enjoyed that he presented facts and allowed the reader to determine what lead Margaret to break off her relationship with Townsend. At first, I wondered if Margaret was attracted to Townsend because he was a connection to her father whom she adored. Morton makes it clear that Elizabeth made every effort to make her sister happy and it was Margaret’s choice to step way.

Andrew Morton brings history to life in the book. The book encompasses WWII, Elizabeth’s marriage, Margaret’s marriage and her unorthodox lifestyle. I loved the author’s voice—his descriptive writing style showed that the sisters-although very different-deeply cared for each other. The Margaret-Peter Townsend chapters were very thorough and well researched. Loved learning bits and pieces of the sister’s lives—the details make this book stand out!

If you are a fan of the Crown series and enjoy books about the royals—this is the perfect book for you!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by Grand Central Publishing

Susan's Review of The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

Inspired by the true World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz, The Last Bookshop in London is a timeless story of wartime loss, love and the enduring power of literature.
August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and blackout curtains that she finds on her arrival were not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.
Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.

The Last Bookshop in London is a poignant novel set in London during WWII. Many novels written during this time focus on military battles, European politics and romance. I was drawn to this novel because Madeline Martin chose a different route. The Last Bookshop in London depicts the fears, the strengths and the shared experiences of the everyday person who lived and worked in London during WWII.

Grace Bennett and he best friend Viv arrive in London in 1939 as London was preparing for war. They take in the sights-the double decker buses and the shops- as they walk to Mrs. Weatherford’s home. Mrs. Weatherford was Grace’s late mother’s best friend and has offered them a room to rent. Grace and Viv were not prepared to see blackout curtains, the underground Anderson air raid shelter and gas masks when they arrive at Mrs. Weatherford’s home.

The characters made this story sparkle and shine! Grace wanted to work at Harrods with Viv but, she was unable to secure a reference from her uncle. Mrs. Weatherford was able to work her magic and secured a position for Grace at Primrose Hill books. Grace was disappointed went she walked into the unorganized, dusty book store and met Mr. Evans. She wasn’t a reader and felt out of place when asked to recommend books until she was gifted a book by George Anderson, one of the bookshops customers. Reading George’s book enabled Grace to forget about the war, the rationing, and the bombings for an hour or two. I loved the connection between George and Grace and how his simple gesture provided Grace with a revelation of what she has been missing. Loved the larger than life character of Mrs. Weatherford. She was warm, caring and an important part of the community. Mrs. Weatherford welcomed Grace and Viv into her family.

Witnessing the aftermath of the night bombings through Grace‘s eyes brought the events of the Blitz in a new light. Madeline Martin’s descriptive voice allowed me to walk in Grace’s shoes as she watched incendiary bombs rain down from the sky, smell the fires and see the aftermath of the nightly bombings during the Blitz. I admired Grace’s courage and the bravery of the Londoners who worked together to protect their community. Grace starts a reading hour at Primrose Hill. As she reads the stories out loud, she notices that the number of people gathered in the room grows daily and that her love of books has brought peace and happiness to others.

I highly recommend The Last Bookshop in London! It’s the perfect blend of engaging characters and wartime drama with a bit of romance. Settle in with a pot of tea and enjoy this heartfelt, emotional read.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book gifted by the author

Susan's Review of The Last Garden in England By Julia Kelly

Present day: Emma Lovett, who has dedicated her career to breathing new life into long-neglected gardens, has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime: to restore the gardens of the famed Highbury House estate, designed in 1907 by her hero Venetia Smith. But as Emma dives deeper into the gardens’ past, she begins to uncover secrets that have long lain hidden.

1907: A talented artist with a growing reputation for her ambitious work, Venetia Smith has carved out a niche for herself as a garden designer to industrialists, solicitors, and bankers looking to show off their wealth with sumptuous country houses. When she is hired to design the gardens of Highbury House, she is determined to make them a triumph, but the gardens—and the people she meets—promise to change her life forever.

1944: When land girl Beth Pedley arrives at a farm on the outskirts of the village of Highbury, all she wants is to find a place she can call home. Cook Stella Adderton, on the other hand, is desperate to leave Highbury House to pursue her own dreams. And widow Diana Symonds, the mistress of the grand house, is anxiously trying to cling to her pre-war life now that her home has been requisitioned and transformed into a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers. But when war threatens Highbury House’s treasured gardens, these three very different women are drawn together by a secret that will last for decades.

I thoroughly enjoyed Julia Kelly’s new novel The Last Garden in England!

Julia Kelly has written an engaging, poignant story for the women of Highbury House. The author chose to have this historical novel set in three time periods; 1907, 1944 and present day. This technique worked because the reader is able to relate to each of the women who are connected to the garden.

The chapters in Last Garden in England are divided by seasons. I enjoyed reading how each of the character's stories unfolded during each season. I could imagine Venetia’s plans for each garden room, smell the flowers as Diana walked through the children’s garden and imagine Emma’s disbelief when she realized that the once famous property has been neglected for years.

Emma Lovett has been tasked to bring the fabled Highbury House gardens back to life. She is honored to restore the gardens designed by Venetia Smith in 1907.

Venetia Smith has made a name for herself by designing gardens for the wealthy. She is hired by the Melcourts to create a one- of- a- kind garden showpiece. The Venetia chapters interested me because the distinction between classes was very apparent. Even though Venetia was the artist who designed the plans for the gardens; she was treated by her employers as a servant. The sketches of Venetia’s walled gardens intrigued me. Each garden portrays a piece of a woman’s life; the tea party garden, the bridal room, the children’s garden and the winter garden.

Diana Symonds is the mistress of Highbury House. She has experienced a lot of change in the past year; the death of her husband, food shortages and rationing during the war and her home being requisitioned as a hospital. I loved the friendship that developed between the Highbury house cook Stella and Beth who was conscripted during the war and served as a Land Girl. Diana, Beth and Stella are very different – their bond? The Highbury House gardens.

Julia Kelly is able to weave each of these stories together flawlessly. Venetia created the Winter garden that served as Diana’s refuge during the war. Emma’s company specializes in restoration work and she is committed to bringing the gardens back to life. Loved the authors descriptive writing—I was able to picture the gardens as Venetia designed them, as Diana saw them and as Emma envisioned them. I could imagine the neglected, mysterious Winter garden and understood its importance to Venetia, Diana and Emma.

The Last Garden in England is a complex, moving historical novel filled with hope and a bit of intrigue.I highly recommend this book if you love to read historical fiction, novels set during World War II or appreciate the beauty of an English country garden!

I enjoyed this book so much that I bought Julia Kelly's Light over London--loved it!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Copy of the book provided by Net Galley

Julia Kelly photo by ©Scott Bottles 

Julia Kelly is the international bestselling author of historical women's fiction books about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into 11 languages. She has also written historical romance as well as fast-paced contemporary sports romance under the name Julia Blake. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London.

Readers can sign up for her newsletter HERE.

Check out Julia Kelly's blog for her design of the Highbury House garden!